Pencil



Jme 23, .1942. R. MARTINEs 2,287,384

l Y PENCIL Filed Jan. 25, 1942 BWM ATTORN EYS Patented June 23, 1942UNITED STATES reTENT OFFICE PENCIL Rene Martines, Cranston, R. I.

Application January 23, 1942, Serial No. .427,975

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a pencil, and particularly to a means forfeeding lead outwardly from the pencil.

Pencils of the so-called mechanical type usually provide some positiveaction for feeding the lead through the barrel so as to supply lead atthe end thereof as the same becomes worn in use. Such positive feedingusually takes the form of a screw action or some ratchet or frictiontype reciprocating action relying on a positive movement or relativemovement of two parts for such feeding action. A mechanism of thecharacter above suggested requires a number of parts usually of metalwhich need either mechanical or screw machine operations and assemblyoperations running into a substantial amount of labor.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple feed for thelead of the pencil which will eliminate the more expensive mechanicalaction of the type heretofore referred to.

Another object of the invention is to provide a small diameter leadwhich itself is of insufiicient weight to be fed by gravity, with aweighting means which will be of sufficient weight so as to feed thepencil lead forward by the action of gravity when the same is released.

Another object of this invention is to attach such Weighting means xedlyto the lead enabling a long lead to be fed through the pencil by a mereshaking of the pencil when a clutch at the end thereof is released forpermitting the lead to feed forward.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement which withthe exception of the weighting means may be all made of a plastic andthus economize on metal parts which are usually used in connection witha pencil of the mechanical feed type.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, as will be more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a central sectional view through the pencil.

Fig, 2 is a sectional view of the point end thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of a fragmental portion of the barrel showingthe clutch portion at the end thereof.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the weighting means.

Fig. 5 is a section online of 5 5 of Fig. 1.

secured to the lead and acting as a weight toenable it to be slidable bygravity. The weight will be of sufficient mass so that by the action ofgravity the lead will feed forward through the barrel when not gripped.A clutch or some grip is provided at the end of the barrel so that whenthe lead has received proper position which it is desired the same shalltake for writing operations the lead maylbe gripped in this p'ositionand held in this position until worn sufficiently so that it is desiredto feed the same forward.

With reference to the drawing, I0 designates the barrel which may beformed of Celluloid or some plastic material and this is provided with abore II extending axially therethrough from one end to the other. Thebore will be reduced along the portion I2 and the end of the barrel willalso be reduced as at I3 and pointed as at I4 in a conical manner. Thisreduced portion of the barrel will be split as at I5 dividing the sameinto four sections, I6, see Fig. 5, and the lead II which is used willbe of a size to closely lit the still further reduced portion of thisbore I2 along the split portion.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated at I8 a point end comprising a cylindricalportion I9 and a conical portion 20 having an internal conical portion2| and an opening 22. The cylindrical portion is threaded as at 23 toengage the threads 24 on the reduced portion I3 and when this point endI8 is threaded onto threads 24 its surface 2| will engage the taperedportion I4 so as to force the Various sections or jaws I6 toward eachother t0 tightly grip the lead and hold it in such position as it mayassume at the time that the point end is threaded tightly into position.

The lead II is ordinarily of such small diameter that it does notpossess suflicient weight so as to itself drop through the jaw portionof the bore I2 nor does it possess sufiicient weight so that by shakingthe pencil it may be forced through this bore. Accordingly in order topropel this lead by releasing the clutch such for instance as unscrewingthe point end I8 I have provided a weighting member designated 25, seeFig. 4, which consists of Vsome heavy material usually metal such forinstance as the metal lead, or most any of the heavy metals, and whichis produced to provide the same with a friction grip as at 26 and splitas at 21 into tWo parts 28 and 29 so as to grip the Writing lead l1 inthe bore 3U. Preferably I may have some resilience in this portion 26 sothat the lead l1 may be forced therein and tightly held. The bore inmember 25 is continued although in somewhat restricted manner as at 3|so that should a lead become broken off in the socket portion 30 it maybe, by means of a pin, forced from position so that the end of a longlead may be inserted therein.

This Weighting member 25 when attached to the lead as shown in Fig. 6 isinserted in the bore Il Where the Weight is supported although freelyslidable in this bore. The Weight is sufficient so that when the clutchis released the lead Will feed forward by gravity or it may be shakensomewhat so as to propel the lead just the right amount which inpractice is readily acquired by the user. After fed forward a sufficientamount the point end member I8 is screwed into position to hold the leadfirmly in place.

Some eraser such as rubber 32 may be inserted in an enlarged portion 33of the bore and a cap 34 may be positioned over this rubber eraser atthe rear end of the pencil on a reduced portion 35 to close the eraserand provide a nish at the end of the pencil.

I claim:

1. A pencil comprising a barrel having an axial bore therethrough, alead of small diameter in said bore, clutch means at one end of thebarrel for gripping and holding said lead, and weighting means attachedto said lead and freely axially movable in said barrel bore to serve asthe sole means for gravitationally assisting in the movement of the leadthrough the barrel.

2. A pencil comprising a barrel having an axial bore therethrough ofdifferent diameters, a lead of small diameter in the portion of saidbore of the smaller diameter, clutch means at one end of the barrel forgripping and holding said lead, and Weighting means in the portion ofthe bore of larger diameter attached to said lead and freely axiallymovable in the portion of said barrel bore of larger diameter to serveas the sole means for gravitationally assisting in the movement of thelead through the barrel.

3. A pencil comprising a barrel having an axial bore therethrough, alead of small diameter in said bore, clutch means at one end of thebarrel for gripping and holding said lead, and weighting means attachedto said lead and freely axially movable in said barrel bore t0 serve asthe sole means for gravitationally assisting in the movement of the leadthrough the barrel, said Weighting means having a recess providing afriction grip With said lead.

4. A pencil comprising a barrel having an axial bore therethrough, alead of small diameter in said bore, clutch means at one end of thebarrel for gripping and holding said lead, and Weighting means attachedto said lead and freely axially movable in said barrel bore to serve asthe sole means for gravitationally assisting in the movement of the leadthrough the barrel, said weighting means having a split socket providinga friction grip with said lead.

RENE MARTINES.

